Sambhal

In a rare tradition, Bhagta Nagla village in Sambhal district has avoided performing ‘Shradh’ rituals for over 100 years. During the ‘Pitra Paksh’ period, neither Brahmins nor beggars enter the village, as no ceremonies or alms are offered.

Villagers trace this practice to a century-old incident when a Brahmin woman, delayed by heavy rains while performing post-death rituals, was later accused of misconduct by her husband. Angered, she returned to Bhagta Nagla, warning that any future shradh rituals there would bring misfortune. The villagers respected her words, treating them as a curse, and stopped performing shradh, a tradition that continues even today.

Bhagta Nagla, home to around 2,500 people—mostly Yadav families along with some Muslim and Brahmin households—follows this belief strictly. Locals say any attempts to break the tradition in the past led to unfortunate incidents, reinforcing their caution. Outside the shradh fortnight, Brahmins still visit the village for weddings and other ceremonies.